Soldering apparatus



Jan. 8 1924.

F'. F. BENTLEY sownme APAnATus Filed Dec. s. 1921 2 Shasta-Sheet lATTORNEYS Jan. 8 j V I F. F. BENTLEY SOLDERINQ APPARATUS F11-ed nec. s.1921 2 Sums-shoot 2 INVENTOR Mns@ @www

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES FRANK F. BENTLEY, OF WARREN, OHIO.

SOLDERING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 3, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may Conce/rn.'

Be it known that I, FRANK F. BENTLEY, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Warren, in the county of Trumbull andState of Ohio, have invented an Improvement in Soldering Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of sheetmetal articles and more particularly to improved apparatus for effectinga fluid-tight closure of the seams or joints of a sheet metal containeras b soldering or a like method.

T is invention has been developed with particular reference to themanufacture of freezing-cans for use in ice-making and will beillustrated and described in that connection.

Freezing-cans for use in the manufacture of ice are commonly made ofsheet metal formed to the desired shape and riveted at the seams, solderbeing applied to make joints fluid-tight. The can hereinafter describedis made with an overlapping seam extending from top to bottom along theside of the can and adjacent one corner. When it is borne in mind thatfreezing-cans are generally so shaped that the length is often Severaltimes greater than the greatest cross sectional dimension, it will beappreciated that the proper soldering of the side seams involvesconsiderable diiculty.

The present invention has been developed to provide a simple, effectiveand economical method of soldering these side seams and efficient andeasily workable apparatus for use in connection therewith.

The invention will be described by reference to a preferred embodimentthereof which is shown in the accompanying drawin s, wherein,

igure l is a plan view of apparatus embodying the invention,particularly adapted for use in soldering the seams of rectangular cans,

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same apparatus,

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view showing the position of parts when acan is supported above the solder pot before dipping,

Serial No. 519,571.

Fig. 4 is a Similar view showing the can in dipped position,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the longitudinal seam of the canindicated in Fi s. 2, 3, and 4, and,

ig. 6 is a perspective view of a scraper which may be used to removeexcess solder.

In the illustrated apparatus presently to be described in detail, thereis provided a solder container and means to facilitate handling of thework to apply solder to the seams by dipping the Work in the solder.When the apparatus is employed in the manufacture of freezing-cans, itis convenient to apply solder to the long side seam of the cam beforethe can bottom is applied, i. e., while the partially formed can isopenat both the top and bottom. The freezing can illustrated as beingoperated upon, is of the type having a substantially rectangular bottomand four sides, but open at the top. The four sides are formed of twopieces of sheet metal lapped and riveted at diagonally opposite cornersto form seams c extending from the top to the botto-m of the can. Thesoldering of the long sea-ms is preferably performed after the rivetingthereof, but before the bottom is secured to the sides. It is the canthus partially formed that is indicated in Fig. 2, 3 and 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus showncomprises a lux container or trough 1 and a soldercontainer or pot 2,with means for maintaining the solder in heated condition, together witha table or ways 5 for supporting the work, as for example the partiallyformed can, as it is moved from the ux trough 1 to the solder pot 2. Awork table 4 is preferably provided at the side of the flux trough toreceive the work before the dipping operation. In practice, the work isdipped into the flux trough to a sufficient depth to apply flux to theoverlapped parts at the seam or joint. The position of a dippedfreezing-can is indicated at a in Fig. 2. The can is then moved to thesolder pot in which it is dipped to a sufficient depth to apply themolten solder to the seam both inside and outside. As the corner of thecan is lowered into the solder pot, the hot solder will flow into theseam from the outside and usually through to the inside of the can, butif the seam is too tight to permit the solder to flow through, it willflow in at the open ends and along ythe seam.

In the apparatus shown, provision is made for facilitating the dippingof the work into the solder by providing a mechanical device under thecontrol f the operator by means of which it is slowly lowered into thesolder. It is desirable that the operator shall have accurate control ofthe loweringof the work for the reason that the work is usually stillwet with iux and the contact of the hot solder With the flu-x causes asmttering and small explosions which tend to spetter the solder.

As shown, the supporting ways 5 and the dipping means are combined inone structure. The structure consists of a plurality of parallelsupporting bars 5 pivoted on a shaft 6 adjacent the flux trough andextendin over the solder pot, the ends being, bent downwardly, forexample, at an angle of 3U". These'bars are controlled by a series ofcams 7, 7, which engage the under ed es thereof, the cams `being mountedrigidly upon a rock shaft 8, which is controlled by a foot lever 10connected thereto by any suitable means. As shown, an arm 11 on the rockshaft 8 is connected to a lever 12 by a link 13 and this lever isconnected to the foot lever 10 by a link 14. The lever 10 is pivoted tothe frame at 15 and carries a Weight 16 at its inner end, which tends tomove the lever to so actnate the cam as to lower the table 3. A detegnt17 actuated by a weight 18 normally holds the foot lever down. To lowerthe table, the operator pushes the detent 17 laterally with his foot andvlets the lever 1() rise under control ol' his foot. In the structureshown, the downturned ends of the bars 5 are not shaped to alone supportthe can in the position indicated at "Zi in Fi 2, but instead the can isfurther guided ,y guide bars 19, which extend downwardly into the solderpot adjacent the ends of the movable supporting Abars 5. As shown, theseguide bars are formed as part of a table onto which the cans may `bemoved after the soldering process. This table consists of a series ofparallel bars, the ends of which are bent downwardly over the solder potat an angle of, for example, 60"; that is to say, so as to lie at anangle of 90o to the direction of the ends of the movable supportingbars. In practice, the can is moved to the position shown in dottedlines at and the foot lever is operated to cause the can to be graduallylowered into the solder and held there until the solder has beeneffectively applied to insure a tight seam. The can is then raised outof the solder by depressing the lever 10,

The arrangement of the benl ends of thc ways at 3 o and (30, as shown.is not essential but is preferred because the scam usually lies zut oneside of the corner, as indicated at c in Fig. Q. By this arrangement,the can may he dipped to a less depth than if the angle were 450 in eachcase.

Cans are oi' dilierent types depending to some extent upon the size otthe can. ln seine cans there is only one vertical seam; other canscomprise two or more side pieces and a corresponding number of verticalseams. ln case there are a plurality, it is necessary to repeat thesolderingl operation Jor the several seams and l. prefer to pro vide atable or ways to facilitate the movement of the cans from the solderingpot to the vflux trough for a second operation. In the structure shown,il provide supporting ways 20 at the back of the aliparatus ou which thecans may be placed after the soldering,l operation. In due cou-rse, theoperations ol applying` the flux and the solder may he repeated for suchother corners as require soldering.

I prefer to so arrange the llux trough 1 that it may be removed from theapparatus, and tor this reason I have shown a support 22 in which thelflux trough is removably mounted. The trough shown is V-shaped incross-section, the two sides Jforming substantial'ly a right angle, torthe' reason that the cans with which the apparatus illustrated isparticularly designed to be used, are of rectangular cross section. Theapparatus 1s more convenient it', as shown, the top of the trough issubstantially ou the level of the tables.

As a suitable means for heatiine the solder pot, I have shown a pair ofoil burners 25, 25, one extending in `troni the l'ront under the solderpot, and one extendiner under the solder pot from one side at or nearthe center thereof. Oil is supplied through one pipe :'26, and airthrough another pipe, 2T, suit able valves 28, 29, being` provided tocontrol the flow of both. Both oil and air may be supplied underpressure.

It will be noted that the traine work of tht` machine, including thetables or supporting,T ways, is constructed of bars, angle irons, andthe like, and is of substantially open con struction, it beineunnecessaryI for the Vparticular type of cans with which the illustratedapparatus is intended to be used to have continuons tables.Furthernllore, it is easier to slide the cans on wavs of the type shown.

In order that the inanner Aot use of the apparatus illustrated may bebetter understood, I will describe one lmethod of employing the same inthe soldering of the side seams of lll) freezing-cans. Partially formedcans, as above described without bottoms, are deposited on the table 4by an operator or a mechanical conveyor. Two operators, one at the frontand one at the back of the apparatus, lift the can at its epposite endsand dip one corner into the `ux to a suitable depth to apply llux overthe seam. They then lift the can, tilt it todrain out the linx from theinside and deposit the can on the table 5, pushinor it forward to theposition indicated at b, l ig. 2. Another operator in front of theapparatus then dips the can into the solder. To do this, he steadies thecan with one hand and operates the food lever 10, leaving the can in thesolder such length of time as experience and judgment may dictate. Hethen lifts the table 5 to lift the can free from the solder, tilts thecan toward him and scrapes the surplus solder from the inside of thecan, using a scraper such for example as shown at 30 in Fig. 6. The canis then placed on the table 19 to be removed by another operator, who,previous to removing the can, wipes the outside of the joint with wasteor other suitable material to remove any surplus solder Jfrom theoutside. If another corner of the can is yet to be soldered, the can isplaced on the ways or table 2O and returned to the opposite end of theapparatus for repetition of the iiuXing and soldering operations.

Obviously, various changes may be made in the apparatus withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and modifications may be madeto adapt the apparatus for handling cans of other shapes than thatillustrated, as, for example, for round cans and the like.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described in combination, a 'luxtrough, a solder pot and means for heating the same, parallel Waysextending between the flux trough and solder ot to support a can whileit is slid from t ie trough to the pot arranged to guide the can tosoldering position over the soldering pot with a joint down, and meansunder control of the operator for causing a relative movement betweenthe Ways and solder pot to bring the same together to dip the can jointinto the solder.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a linxtrough, a solder pot, ways extending from adjacent the flux trough toadjacent the solder pot and arranged to support a can as it is movedfrom the linx trough to the solder pot, the ends of said ways being bentdown over said solder pot to support a part of the can in an angularposition, and means for lowering said ways to cause a corner of the canto dip into the solder pot.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a iuxtrough, a

solder pot, Ways extending from adjacent the flux trough to adjacent thesolder pot and arranged to support a can as it is moved from the Huxtrough to the solder pot, the ends of said ways being bent down oversaid solder pot to support a part of the can in an angular position,means for lowering said ways to cause a corner of the can to dip intothe solder pot, and other ways along which a can can be moved from'thesolder pot to the flux trough, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a flux trough,a solder pot, ways extending from adjacent the.flux trough to adjacentthe solder pot and arranged to support a can as it is moved from theflux trough to the solder pot, the ends of said ways being bent downover said solder pot to support a part of the can in an angularposition, and means under the control of the operator for lowering saidways to dip a corner of the can into the solder pot.

5. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a solderpot, means for heating the same, and work tables on opposite sides ofthe solder pot adapted to support the work adjacent the solder pot, oneot' said tables having a portion extending over and downward into thesolder pot to afford a support to facilitate lowering the work towardthe solder.

6. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, spaced worktables and a solder pot with means for heating the same therebetween,said work tables each comprising a plurality of parallel bars, the endsof which extend over the solder pot and are bent down to meet atsubstantially a right angle, and means for lowering one set of bars todip a can into the solder, substantially as described.

7. In apparatus for soldering joints inthe corners of artially formedcans, in combination, a ux trough, a solder pot, arallel supporting waysextending from tlie flux trough to the solder pot and having the endsbent downward over the solder pot, and means for moving said endsdownwardly to lower a corner of a partially formed can into the solderpot.

8. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a worktable, a second work table laterally spaced therefrom, a trough supportbetween said tables positioned below the level thereof, a removable linxtrough mounted in said support and so positioned that its top is onsubstantially the level of the work table, a third work table, a solderpot with means for heatin the same positioned between the Second anthird work tables, a can support over said solder pot arranged tosupport a can with one corner down, and means under control of the oerator'or aetuatrn saloen''so f ort to the comer oft ve een into esolder pot' and to lift it herefol, sgxbsttially `es andV for thepurpose described.

3. In apparatus Yofthe chu-rachet described in combinations ta 'iuxtrough, a solder ot, ways exteniggg from adjacent the 'ux trough to theolder pot en d dowpwapkly l at n angle mto Said soler pot, =means c0-eellggber, '$21. W Y

FRANK e. BENTLM.

